Improvement in clutch for slaughtering-purposes



i@ ge/ tate/a latent (luten.

'RICHARD SAVAGE, O-F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Letters Patent No. 88,217, dated March 23, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT CLUTCH FOR SLAUG-HTERING--PURPOSS The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and makina.,r part of the same.

To all 'whom it 'may concern Vshowing the 'position of the parts thereof when the animal is being raised;

Figure 3 represents the position the clutch assumes when the animal is dropped; and

Figure 4, a sectional view of one of the jaws ofthe clutch, taken at the line a'.

I am aware that clutches have been used for. catoliing and hoisting hogs and other animals; but the jaws of said clutches were nearly or quite oi' equal length, so that the weight of the animal would be upon the ends thereof, and act asa wedge, to pry the jaws apart.

My invention consists in extending one of the jaws l of the clutch around past thecentre, as hereinafter more fully described, so that the weight will rest upon said jaw, and not act as a wedge between the ends of the jaws, to open them.

It further consists in constructing the end of one of the handles of said clutch with an open slot, so that the link, or ring of the chain can he thrown out of it, when the animal is suspended, and cause the clutch to open, and drop the animal where desired. Heretofore, the chains, or links have been permanently attached to the handles of the clutch; and

My invention further consists in the peculiar con- Astruction of the hoisting-block, and the ring, or link attached thereto, whereby said link falls down to a right angle with said block, when the animal is being raised, and is held in a suitable position to be readily caught upon a hook, for suspension.

To enable those skilled in the art to understand how to manufacture and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same with particnlarity.

The same letters of reference refer to the corresponding parts in the diierent figures.

A represents a clutch,which is made in two parts, and pivoted together, at B, in the usual manner of constructing clutches for slaughtering-purposes I prefer, however, to make the clutch of cast-steel, for the purpose of lightness, sothat it can be more readily handled.

One ofthe jaws C of the clutch is made in the shape of a hook, as clearly shown in figs. 1 and 3, so that it hooks around the hogs leg, and the weight of the animal rests upon it at D, when it is suspended.

i The jaw E is made sufficiently long to lill the space necessary for the animals leg to pass into the hooked 'aw C.

J This construction makes it much easier to hold the animal in the clutch.

In the end of one of the handles 'of the clutch, I make a slot, F, into which the chain G can be hooked, as shown iniig. 1.

I also attach the chains G to a swivel, H, in the lower end of the hoistingfblock I. n

Near the top of said block, there is a hole, or slot, through which the ring, or link J passes, just above a shoulder, K, on said block, the construction being such that said ring, or link will fall down upon said shoulder, in the position shown in flg. 2, when the animal is being raised. j

The animal is raised by attaching the hoistingeappa ratns to the ring L, at the top of thc block I, and the link J, resting in the position shown in iig. 2, can be readily guided, so as to catch upon a liook,where it may be desired to suspend the animal.

The said link J then swings up into the position shownin tig. l, and holds the weight.

When it is desired to drop the animal from the clutch A, the chain G is thrown from the' slot F,Lwhen vthe clutch opens, as shown in lig. 3, and the animal falls.

The chain G may be thrown from the slot F by means of a pronged lever, L, which rests upon the pin, or shoulder O, as a fulcrum; or a cam-lever might be attached to the handleof the clutch, in such a way as to be operated to throw the link from the slot.

In operating the machine, a man takes the clutch by its handles, and hooks the jaw C around the'auimals leg, the shape of said jaw enabling him to hold theanimal with ease, till he can hook the chain G into the slot F, when the animal is instantly raised and suspended, as above described.

The inside of the jaw O, I make oval, at D.

Having fully described the construction and operation of my invention,

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is f l. T he hook-shape jaw C, of the clutch A, in combination with the j aw E, when constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. Constructing one of the handles of the clutch A with the slot Il", substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The link J, in combination with the shoulder K,

when constructed and operating substantially as de scribed.

RICHARD SAVAGE. Witnesses:

L. L. COBURN, J. L. COBURN. 

